Before ‘NCIS,’ Pauley Perrette Had a Role in This Star-Studded Oscar Winner

For fifteen sensational seasons, Pauley Perrette became a breakout star in the popular and long-running military police procedural NCIS, serving up an unforgettable performance as the eccentric and savvy forensic scientist Abby Sciuto from 2003 to 2018. Perrette was nominated for three People’s Choice Awards for her scene-stealing performance as Abby, with both the quirky character and enduring series becoming synonymous with the actress.

Many people may have forgotten that before joining the hit drama NCIS, Perrette had actually appeared in the star-studded 2000 dramedy Almost Famous. Featuring some of Hollywood’s finest performers, such as Oscar nominee Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup and Frances McDormand, Cameron Crowe’s movie is a nostalgia-fueled, semi-autobiographical film based on the director’s own experiences as a teenager writing for Rolling Stone. Now over 25 years old, it remains as entertaining as ever and is just begging to be re-watched – especially for NCIS fans.

A Star-Studded Dramedy Full of Nostalgia & Heart

Set in 1973, the story of Almost Famous focuses on 15-year-old child prodigy William Miller (Patrick Fugit) who is chosen to tour with the fictitious band Stillwater and write a cover story about the group for Rolling Stone. Lead guitarist Russell Hammond (Crudup) quickly takes a liking to the ambitious William as he shadows the band and travels the country with them, as does the wise and vivacious veteran groupie Penny Lane (Hudson), whom the teen becomes smitten with.

Despite attempting to remain neutral and level-headed when it comes to writing his piece, William begins to lose his objectivity as he becomes integrated into the band and observes tension and animosity amongst Stillwater’s members. As personal resentments and conflicts begin to erupt, William discovers that life as a rock star and wannabe music journalist are both far more complicated than he could have ever imagined.

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Pauley Perrette’s Role in ‘Almost Famous’

So where does the future Abby Sciuto fit in? Perrette had a small-yet-impactful role as the lively radio DJ Alice Wisdom, who strikes up a spirited conversation with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman’s music critic and journalist Lester Bangs (a fictionalized version of the real-life critic). Almost Famous was heavily inspired by Crowe’s own experiences writing for Rolling Stone, and the director allegedly based Perrette’s character on San Diego DJ Gabriel Wisdom, whom Crowe met while living in the city.

Despite its lackluster commercial performance (the movie grossed just $47.4 million against a $60 million budget), Almost Famous garnered widespread appreciation from critics for its engrossing screenplay, immersive storytelling, and unforgettable characters, with Hudson and McDormand being singled out. Over time, it has gained the status of a cult classic.

John Cusack with the boombox in Say Anything

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It was immediately clear the movie was loved by those who saw it. Almost Famous was nominated for four Academy Awards, with Crowe ultimately taking home the statuette for Best Original Screenplay. The film also earned Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Hudson) and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Moviegoers awarded the dramedy a stellar A− CinemaScore.

In the 25 years since its debut, Almost Famous has been celebrated by countless outlets, including the BBC, The Hollywood Reporter, and Rolling Stone, most recently placing #47 on the New York Times’ Best Films of the 21st Century. It also helped boost the careers of Hudson, Crudup, and Deschanel, turning them into household names. And Perrette, of course, was a mainstay on CBS for 15 years with NCIS before retiring.